Crime, madness and punishment

sociological precedents for infractions of those in custody in Bahia

Abstract

From the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 20th century, the international debate between psychiatry and criminology about the clinical diagnosis of psychiatric patients who commit violent acts with great legal repercussions gained prominence. With regard to women, the manifestation of violence was linked to hormonal imbalances. In a different sense, this study aimed to discuss the profile of the victims in the infractions of women taken into psychiatric custody in the light of their sociological precedents. For this purpose, the qualitative research resorted to a case study in the female ward of the Hospital de Custódia e Tratamento Psiquiátrico da Bahia (HCTP-BA), in an empirical approach with the technique of semi-directive interviews with patients and professionals. In addition, literature review and normative review. As a result, the majority profile of partners and children is identified as victims of infractions committed by women directed to the HCTP. In the context of the commission of the acts in which the psychiatric crisis emerged, the similarity of physical, sexual and psychological gender conflicts against women is striking. It is concluded that the category of victims is repeated among the cases due to its linkage to the common circumstance of violence in the domestic environment.